What is Cris Cyborg's Legacy in MMA?

Women's MMA pioneer Cris Cyborg has likely had her final MMA fight (despite calling out Kayla Harrison). After a career that has spanned 21 years, the Brazilian's career has wound down, and her record is certainly impressive. With a career record of 30-2-0-1 (more on the single no-contest later), she should be considered in the conversation for the GOAT, not just in women's MMA, but in MMA as a whole.

Why is it then that, broadly speaking, she isn't considered in the conversation? There are two elements of her career that could explain why this is the case. Let's take a look at them both.

Cris Cyborg's MMA Legacy

Strikeforce and Positive Test

Without a doubt, Cris Cyborg is one of the pioneers of women's MMA. She was part of the biggest fight in women's MMA history (at the time) when she clashed with Gina Carano in a headlining slot on August 15th, 2009.

Before this, though, she made a name for herself on the local Brazilian scene as a hard-hitting badass. Joining Elite XC in 2008, she quickly raced to 7-1, although she would struggle to make weight on multiple occasions, a theme that would crop up later on in her career.

Her one-round war with Carano helped put her on the map as a household name, and she went on to make two further defences of the featherweight belt that she picked up in that win against Carano.

Then came her fight with Hiroko Yamanaka. The Japanese mixed martial artist had a record of 12-1 prior to fighting Cyborg and, on paper, didn't offer a huge threat to the Brazilian. This would prove to be correct as it took just 16 seconds for Cyborg to TKO her foe; however, she wouldn't get a win on her record.

She would later test positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol. For this, she would receive a year ban and a fine; however, she would never admit to doing any wrong. Although she took ownership for her mistake, she claims on her official website, “The sport was very different back then and it was a different time in my life. I did not speak English at the time and did not know that the pill given to me as a diet pill to help me lose weight was banned from competition in the USA. I served my penalty, paid my fine.".

Regardless of whether it was intentional or not, she popped hot, and that will forever be a stain on her career.

UFC Days

Following her suspension, Cris Cyborg joined Invicta FC and amassed a promotional record of 5-0, being dominant in the process and knocking out all of her opponents. 

Naturally, questions were asked when she would mix it in the big leagues. When would she join the UFC and truly test herself? There was a key sticking point, however... weight. The UFC didn't have a featherweight division, and Cyborg was simply too big to make 135lbs.

When Ronda Rousey was in her prime, this was the mega fight that everyone wanted, but it couldn't happen as Rousey wasn't willing to budge on her weight class. For her, it was bantamweight or nothing.

The UFC would offer her an avenue to competition and allow her two catchweight bouts at 140lbs; however, it was clear that even making that weight was extremely dangerous for the Brazilian.

She would win the vacant women's featherweight title just five months after it was created. The reason it was vacant is that the inaugural title holder, Germaine de Randamie, refused to face Cyborg, citing earlier failed drug tests.

Cyborg would defeat Tonya Evinger and defend her belt against Holly Holm and Yana Kunitskaya before the all-Brazilian mega fight.

Amanda Nunes was going for greatness. She had already dominated the bantamweight division but was looking to become a two-weight world champion and clashed with Cyborg at UFC 323. What played out was one of the most shocking moments in UFC history.

It was all over in just 51 seconds; Cyborg was finished by Amanda Nunes, and the latter cemented her name in history.

She would bounce back with a victory over Felicia Spencer, but it wasn't the fight anyone wanted. Everyone wanted the Nunes rematch, but when the going got tough, Cyborg didn't get the fight.

Bellator Bully & PFL Tenure

Being called a bully in an MMA octagon isn't a bad thing. It's a highlight of how superior a fighter is in comparison to their opponents.

Cyborg was a Bellator bully. Many believed that her Bellator debut against Julia Budd would cause her issues. This wasn't the case. It was domination from start to finish.

The next five competitors weren't on her level. Not a single woman caused her any issues. 

Everyone wanted the Cris Cyborg vs Kayla Harrison fight - but it wasn't to be. Harrison signed with the UFC, and Bellator merged with the PFL.

She would continue her domination, picking up two PFL belts, most recently this weekend.

Why Cyborg's Legacy Isn't Appreciated

With a record of 30-2, she's up there with some of the best to ever do it. As far as women's MMA is concerned, she has more wins and fewer losses than the consensus GOAT, Amanda Nunes.

She's won belts wherever she's competed and done so in a dominant fashion. But her legacy isn't appreciated as much as it should be.

This arguably comes down to two factors. Firstly, the failed drug test. Secondly, the lack of fights against viable opponents.

Drug Test Legacy

Whilst Cyborg accepts that she made a mistake by taking a banned substance, she didn't accept that it was her fault entirely. She believes that an innocent pill that she took to lose weight was laced with an unknown banned substance.

This is understandable and has happened multiple times in MMA. Yoel Romero's case comes to mind. With that being said, it still taints her legacy.

It's worth noting that other 'greats' in the game such as Jon Jones, Anderson Silva and Royce Gracie have all popped hot; however, their legacies haven't been tarnished like Cyborg's.

Lack of Viable Competition

Through no fault of her own, Cris Cyborg, aside from once, has struggled to get the big fights. She constantly called for the Ronda Rousey fight but never got it.

Next came the callout of Amanda Nunes for a rematch - She didn't get it.

Kayla Harrison - Same story.

The biggest name on Cyborg's record is either Gina Carano in 2009 or Holly Holm in 2017 in a fight where Holm entered it off the back of a run of 1-3 in her last four.

Is this all her fault? No. Does it slightly alter her legacy? Without a doubt.